Months later...
The continent burned once again.
Battle after battle erupted across the borders.
The Empire possessed the larger army.
Greater resources.
Better generals.
Yet...
The kingdom refused to fall.
Wherever Princess Lunara appeared...
Soldiers fought with renewed courage.
Wherever Lord Valeria appeared...
Entire battlefields became untouchable.
No one could stand before her.
Not even me.
So...
I changed tactics.
If strength failed...
Then I would rely on schemes.
Years of infiltration had taught me that.
Poison.
False intelligence.
Hidden assassins.
Ambushes.
Supply shortages.
One by one...
I removed every advantage they possessed.
Eventually...
Princess Lunara fell.
Not by honor.
Not by strength.
But by deception.
I watched from the shadows as Lord Valeria knelt beside the princess's lifeless body.
For the first time...
Her expression cracked.
She gently brushed the blood from Lunara's face.
"I was too late..."
She whispered.
